8man Preview – Week 6

Tuesday saw the release by CHSAA of the data that will be used to set the postseason field. While the numbers shown in the seeding index are far from finalized, they did show that most of the field is pretty much set. Only a handful of games will have any significant impact this weekend.  PHOTO BY VAN HOLLIS

One game many people were looking forward to was in the Mountain division, where #3 Sanford (5-0) was set to host eighth-ranked Mancos (3-1). That game was scrubbed early in the week when Sanford had to go to remote learning, due to a positive case of COVID in their high school.

That cancellation left the Bluejays scrambling for a new opponent, and as of early Wednesday morning, none had been found. With Mancos sitting seventh in the seeding index, .05 points ahead of #8 Crowley County (3-1) finding a game against a quality opponent could help secure that playoff spot.

For those Chargers, their game this Friday at Wiley (1-4) could actually hurt them in both the RPI and Packard rankings, even with a win. In part, that is because the Panthers are in the bottom third of the seeding index, coming in at 28^th. Crowley County will be entering the game following a 32-22 defeat by #2 Fowler (5-0) last Friday.

Adam Schultz (145 yards) and Tach Brewer (104 yards) each topped the century mark for the Chargers in that loss to the Grizzlies. It marked the first time this season that someone had held Schultz under 200 yards on the ground. Brewer’s total was helped by an 85-yard scamper. Turnovers played a key role, as the Chargers lost three fumbles in the contest.

Wiley fell 30-28 to Springfield (1-4) last Friday, as the Longhorns came from behind with a fourth quarter touchdown to take the victory. Hayden Lasley had a monster game, both offensively and defensively, to power Springfield to the win. The ran for 204 yards and four scores on 36 carries, and had a pair of takeaways (one fumble recovery, one interception).

The Panthers got three rushing touchdowns from Aiden Michael, who tallied 122 yards on just seven carries, and Tate Krentz added a 79-yard kick return for a touchdown. Defensively, Krentz was one of three Panthers to record 14 tackles in the game. He was joined by Tyler Reifschneider and Kevin Pearson, while Riley Comer added 13 stops.

Staying in the Arkansas Valley, Fowler has a spot locked up, as the Grizzlies enter the week third in the seeding index. However, their guests on Friday, the Holly Wildcats, are 10^th and in desperate need of a win to have a chance at joining them in the playoff field. Holly (2-1) is a little more than .05 points behind Crowley County for that final spot and an upset of the Grizzlies could be enough to catapult them into the bracket.

Fowler churned out 324 rushing yards against Crowley County, with Braxton Bates supplying 149 of them. Bates scored two of the team’s five touchdowns on the ground. Gabriel Proctor led the defense with a career-high 25 tackles. The senior has registered 78 tackles in five games this season, after recording 189 during last year’s run to a runner-up finish.

After playing two games in five days, the Wildcats will be playing for the first time in 11 days when they take the field on Friday. The last time they were in action, the Wildcats were on the wrong end of a 56-8 decision against #1 Sedgwick County (5-0). With just three games under their belts, Holly needs this game to even be eligible for the postseason, as it was determined prior to the start of the campaign that a team must play at least four to have a shot at being in the final eight.

They have split the two previous meetings with Fowler, as Holly took a 29-28 victory two years ago, and the Grizzlies captured a 68-22 win last season. Fowler outscored Holly 30-0 in the fourth quarter of that contest. Joshua Daniels (174 yards) and Jackson Bates (168 yards) combined for 342 yards and six touchdowns in the ground game. Proctor recorded what then a career-high 24 tackles. Holly’s Dakota Eaton ran for two scores and threw for another in the losing effort. A win by Fowler could potentially push them ahead of Sanford for the #2 seed in the playoffs.

Sandwiched between Crowley County and Holly is Simla (4-1), who comes into the week ninth in the seeding index. The Cubs broke into the coaches poll this week, also earning the ninth position there, following last week’s 38-8 non-league win over Lyons. Simla dominated the Lions on the ground, outgaining them 358-88 in that phase of the game. Coletin Mazerall led the way with 176 yards and three TDs, and Brayden Glover added 141 yards and a TD.

This week’s opponent, Dolores Huerta (2-3) dropped a tough 16-6 contest to Calhan (3-2) last week. The Scorpions held Calhan to just 159 total yards of offense, but three turnovers, including a 91-yard scoop and score by the Bulldogs, were the difference in the game. The Scorpions have not beaten Simla in two meetings. The Cubs won 42-0 two seasons ago, and 46-22 last year.

Fellow Southern division foe Swink (4-1) is also part of the pack that is hunting down that final postseason spot. Like Simla, the Lions cracked the top-10 of the coaches poll this week, as they nailed down the #10 ranking. They are 11^th in the seeding index following a 44-22 defeat of Pikes Peak Christian (3-2) last week. Matthew Mendoza continued to pile up the rushing yards as he went for 239 with two scores. His 1095 yards this season not only leads the classification, but that total is third best in the state, regardless of classification. Clay Roweth also topped the century mark for the Lions in that win, as the junior tallied 125 yards and three touchdowns.

The Lions will travel to Calhan (14^th in seeding index) on Friday, needing a win and lots of help to claim a spot in the postseason. Calhan’s win over Dolores Huerta last week sends them into the match-up with two straight victories. Brandon Eglinton went completed seven of eight passes in that win over the Scorpions, with his lone incompletion being an interception. Despite their struggles in that contest, Ryan Campbell (608) and Eglinton (542) have combined for 1150 yards and 14 touchdowns in the ground attack this season.

Mendoza powered Swink to a 38-12 win in last year’s meeting with Calhan, as he ran for a then career-high 294 yards and three TDs. He set a new high mark in his career two weeks ago, with 311 yards against Denver Christian. Campbell had 112 rushing yards for the Bulldogs, and he also added an interception on defense.

Dove Creek (4-1), Rangely (5-0), and Merino (4-1) currently occupy spots four through six in the seeding index, and they are separated by .03 points. Dove Creek gets the weekend started by hosting Norwood (1-3), while Merino visits Akron (1-4) on Friday in the annual Clash of Rams. Those are games that could have a negative impact on the seeding of both favorites, as their opponents are 20^th and 25^th, respectively. Rangely finds itself in a similar situation when the Panthers visit Gilpin County (3-2) on Saturday. The Eagles are just 21^st in the seeding index. If all three favorites win their games this weekend, the seeding committee will have a lot to sift through on Sunday.

Five time defending state champion Sedgwick County has the top overall playoff locked down as they lead Sanford by .121 points in the race for number one.  The Cougars close up the regular season against Dayspring Christian.  The Eagles, who were ranked as high as number three by the coaches this year, currently #13 in the seeding index and won’t make a playoff appearance.